How to Create Your Own Strands-Style Word Puzzle

What Is a Strands-Style Puzzle?

Strands is a word-search variant popularized by the New York Times that goes far beyond circling random words in a grid. If you've played it, you know the satisfying "aha" moment when the theme clicks into place.

Here's how the mechanics work:

• Grid size: Every puzzle uses a 6-column × 8-row grid (48 letters total).
• Theme words: A set of words — typically 6 to 8 — all connected to a single theme. Each word is hidden in the grid, and together they tile the entire board without overlapping.
• Spangram: One special word or phrase that spans the grid from one side to the other (top-to-bottom or left-to-right) and encapsulates the overall theme.
• No leftover letters: Unlike traditional word searches, every single letter in the grid belongs to exactly one theme word or the spangram. Nothing is filler.

Understanding these rules is the foundation for anyone who wants to make their own Strands puzzle from scratch.

How to Choose a Theme

A great theme is the heart of any custom Strands word puzzle. The theme needs to be specific enough that the words feel cohesive, but broad enough to yield 6–8 distinct entries.

What Makes a Good Theme?

• Concrete categories work best: Think "Types of Pasta," "Oscar-Winning Films," or "Planets in the Solar System" rather than vague concepts like "Things That Are Nice."
• Aim for 7–9 candidate words: You'll need at least 6 theme words plus a spangram, so brainstorm more than you need and trim later.
• Vary word lengths: A mix of short (4–5 letters) and longer (7–9 letters) words gives you flexibility when filling the grid.
• Test the spangram early: Before committing to a theme, check whether you can think of a phrase that spans the grid and sums up the theme. If you can't, consider a different angle.

Example themes to get you started: Shades of Blue, Famous Bridges, Coffee Drinks, Types of Clouds, Classic Board Games.

How to Select Theme Words That Fit the Grid

Once you have a theme, it's time to curate your word list with the grid in mind. This is where the DIY Strands game design gets technical.

1. List 8–10 candidate words related to your theme.
2. Count total letters. Your theme words and spangram must together use exactly 48 letters (6 × 8 = 48). Add up the letter counts of your chosen words and spangram — they must equal 48.
3. Adjust your list. Swap out words to hit the 48-letter target. If you're at 44, add a longer word; if you're at 52, replace a long word with a shorter one.
4. Avoid repeated letter collisions. Since words snake through adjacent cells, plan paths for words with repeated letters carefully so they don't collide.
5. Check for ambiguity. If two theme words share a common substring, solvers may confuse their paths. Minimize overlap in letter sequences.

How to Place Words So They Connect Through Adjacent Letters

This is the most puzzle-like part of the process. In Strands, words are formed by moving through adjacent cells — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — and each cell is used exactly once.

Step-by-Step Placement Process

1. Start with your longest word or spangram. Place it first since it's the hardest to fit.
2. Draw the grid on paper or use a spreadsheet. Label columns 1–6 and rows 1–8.
3. Snake each word through the grid. A word doesn't have to travel in a straight line — it can twist and turn as long as each successive letter occupies an adjacent cell.
4. Fill in shorter words around the longer ones. Work outward from your anchor words, fitting shorter theme words into the remaining empty cells.
5. Check coverage after each word. Keep a running count of filled cells. You must reach exactly 48 with no gaps.
6. Iterate freely. It's normal to restart a placement two or three times before everything tiles cleanly. This is the core challenge of being a Strands puzzle creator.

Pro tip: Use a color-coded spreadsheet — assign each word a different fill color so you can instantly see which cells are claimed.

How to Create the Spangram

The spangram is what elevates a good puzzle into a great one. It must:

• Span the entire grid — touching both the top and bottom edges, or both the left and right edges.
• Summarize the theme — it's the meta-answer that ties everything together.
• Be a real word or common phrase — solvers should recognize it once they find it.

Tips for a Strong Spangram

• Keep it to 8–12 letters so it can realistically snake across the 6×8 grid.
• Place it first in your layout, since its path must cross the full board.
• Compound words and two-word phrases work especially well — for example, "SUNANDMOON" for a celestial theme.
• Make sure its path doesn't accidentally spell out a theme word along the way.

Tools and Websites That Help Build Word Search Grids

You don't have to design your custom Strands word puzzle entirely by hand. Several word puzzle maker tools can speed up the grid-filling process:

• Discovery Puzzlemaker: A classic free tool for generating word search grids. It won't enforce the "no leftover letters" rule, but it's great for visualizing word placement.
• Crossword Labs / Puzzle Maker Pro: Useful for checking that words fit within a defined grid size.
• Google Sheets or Excel: The most flexible option for a true Strands-style build. Set up a 6×8 table, color-code cells by word, and manually place letters.
• WordMint: An online word puzzle maker that supports custom grids and can export shareable images.
• Pencil and graph paper: Sometimes the analog approach is fastest for the initial layout, especially when you're iterating quickly.

For a fully authentic experience, Google Sheets remains the go-to tool among DIY Strands game enthusiasts because it gives you complete control over every cell.

Tips for Making It Challenging but Fair

A well-crafted puzzle respects the solver's intelligence. Keep these principles in mind:

• Avoid overly obscure words. Theme words should be recognizable to a general audience — save the deep-cut trivia for the spangram.
• Make the theme guessable mid-solve. Solvers should be able to infer the theme after finding 2–3 words, which motivates them to keep going.
• Use winding paths strategically. A word that snakes in an unexpected direction is satisfying to find, not frustrating — as long as the letters are unambiguous.
• Test it yourself first. After building the grid, wait a day and try to solve it cold. You'll quickly spot any unfair traps.
• Get a second opinion. Have a friend attempt the puzzle before you share it widely. Fresh eyes catch issues you've become blind to.

How to Share Your Custom Puzzle with Others

Once your puzzle is polished, it's time to get it in front of solvers. Here are the best ways to share your creation:

1. Export as an image. Screenshot your completed Google Sheets grid, clean it up in a tool like Canva, and share it on social media or via messaging apps.
2. Use a puzzle-sharing platform. Sites like Puzzly or Crossword Nexus let you upload and share interactive word puzzles with a link.
3. Create a printable PDF. Format your grid in Google Docs or Word and export as a PDF — perfect for game nights or classroom use.
4. Build a simple web version. If you're comfortable with basic HTML, open-source word-search libraries let you create a playable browser version of your puzzle.
5. Post to puzzle communities. Subreddits like r/NYTStrands or r/wordgames are welcoming spaces where you can share your work and get feedback from fellow enthusiasts.

Creating and sharing puzzles is a rewarding loop — every piece of solver feedback makes your next design sharper. Now that you know how to create a Strands puzzle from concept to finished grid, the only thing left to do is pick a theme and start placing letters.